President Barack Obama’s administration is dismissing incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s vow to target the EPA’s efforts to cap carbon emissions and what he calls the “War on Coal.”

“I don’t believe they can stop us,” White House counselor John Podesta said when asked about the Kentucky Republican’s plans on a conference call announcing another climate report Monday.

McConnell made fighting the EPA climate regulations a key part of his successful re-election bid, and vowed on election night that his supporters’ voices on the issue will be heard in Washington.

But so far the White House has, if anything, accelerated its efforts. Podesta said the EPA would be hard at work finalizing its key rule cutting carbon emissions for existing power plants in the coming months — something that is expected to shutter a number of coal plants by 2030. The president also committed to emissions reductions in an agreement with China’s leaders on his Asia trip, and the administration is looking to take other executive actions to align grant and other programs to fight climate change and mitigate its effects. Full story

Updated: June 6, 9:06 a.m. | Sen. Mary L. Landrieu will head to a coal-fired power plant Monday, to emphasize her opposition to President Barack Obama’s goal to take a big whack at coal as part of his plan to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

The vulnerable Louisiana Democrat will head to the Big Cajun II coal-fired power plant in New Roads, La., according to a news release.

She’ll “meet with plant workers, take a tour of the facility and hold a roundtable discussion with power industry leaders from across Louisiana.” Full story

June 2, 2014

President Barack Obama is bypassing Congress to take a big swing at Big Coal — with the EPA announcing a sweeping new cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.

A 30 percent cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 is a big number — less than environmental groups want but far more than the president can get via Congress, where climate change skeptics rule the House and the Democratic Senate so far avoiding bringing a climate change bill to the floor during Obama’s presidency.

The Obama power plant rules are the most far-reaching policies in the “pen-and-phone” second-term presidency, with the impact touching every American who turns on a light switch.Full story

May 8, 2014

President Barack Obama’s stump speech at a Los Angeles fundraiser Wednesday night was one part self-celebratory victory lap, one part a nod to the anxiety of families whose wages have remained flat and one part pure partisan red meat.

Perhaps most striking was the president’s acknowledgement that family incomes have remained stagnant on his watch, as he talked at length about “disquiet around the country” and frustration with a dysfunctional Washington.

“And for families, in particular, even with the recovery, they still have not seen an increase in wages, an increase in incomes. They’re still worried that they’re not going to be able to retire when they plan to retire. They worry about the prospects for their kids, whether they’re going to be able to live out their American Dream the same way that they did.” Full story

The centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s second term may be sweeping climate change regulations, and he isn’t about to let Congress rein him in.

White House adviser John Podesta, back at the White House podium, said congressional Republicans will not be able to block the president’s climate regulations, despite numerous legislative efforts to do so.

“Those have zero percent chance of working,” Podesta said. “We’re committed. … There are no takers at this end of Pennsylvania Avenue.” Full story